Landlord want a contractor crew to do repairs when I am away. Who is responsible to watch the contractors ? (renters, insurance)

[CNYC]

Yikes.

I had a similar thread awhile back I think. Just like the title says. There was an unfortunate water leak in my kitchen and now the landlord needs to rip up the entire bottom level wood floor and re-do it. They also want to repaint the kitchen.

I am leaving on a trip for 3 weeks so they can do it then but they want to put a lock box on my door. Ummm who will watch the contractor crew when I am not here ? Obviously someone needs to be there every day monitoring these guys right ? I can't have a crew in there with no one there. That's crazy.

If the landlord says " I will replace any stolen item" how would I ever prove it legally ?

Any tips ? I like the rental and the landlord and she likes me. She is a solid landlord but I also want to protect myself.

Thoughts ? And won't the paint smell get on my clothes from having the fumes in the house ?


Thanks

[lostsoul359]

Do you have cameras inside the property?

[CNYC]

Originally Posted by lostsoul359

Do you have cameras inside the property?

Yes I have two NEST cameras which are amazing.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by CNYC

Yikes.

I had a similar thread awhile back I think. Just like the title says. There was an unfortunate water leak in my kitchen and now the landlord needs to rip up the entire bottom level wood floor and re-do it. They also want to repaint the kitchen.

I am leaving on a trip for 3 weeks so they can do it then but they want to put a lock box on my door. Ummm who will watch the contractor crew when I am not here ? Obviously someone needs to be there every day monitoring these guys right ? I can't have a crew in there with no one there. That's crazy.

If the landlord says " I will replace any stolen item" how would I ever prove it legally ?

Any tips ? I like the rental and the landlord and she likes me. She is a solid landlord but I also want to protect myself.

Thoughts ? And won't the paint smell get on my clothes from having the fumes in the house ?


Thanks

Photograph everything, take any real small valuable out.

[reenzz]

There are zero laws that require the landlord to watch over the workers he hires.

Take plenty of photos, hide your valuables, bag your clothing and get yourself some renters insurance.

[CNYC]

How would photographing my items help ? Ie. I have a photo of my bicycle then it disappears. How does the photo help minus showing what it looks like...a watch same thing ?

There are no laws ? Hard to believe. There is a law that gives them entrance to fix things but once inside no law on theft or damage ????

[jnojr]

Originally Posted by CNYC

How would photographing my items help ? Ie. I have a photo of my bicycle then it disappears. How does the photo help minus showing what it looks like...a watch same thing ?

There are no laws ? Hard to believe. There is a law that gives them entrance to fix things but once inside no law on theft or damage ????

What law would you like to see? That they have to sit there and stare at people while they work? Know what would happen then? They'd give you notice to get out, work in an empty house, and then put it back on the market at a higher rate.

You know strangers are going to be in your house, and you can't be bothered to watch them. So lock your stuff up. What else can you do?

[CNYC]

Originally Posted by jnojr

You know strangers are going to be in your house, and you can't be bothered to watch them. So lock your stuff up. What else can you do?

Lets see go on a 3 week trip to Acapulco which has been paid in full or cancel trip with no reimbursement because there was a leak in the kitchen sink and you wanted to help the landlord by telling her sooner rather than later ??????

[TacoSoup]

I think you’re worrying about nothing. Unless you’re stupid enough to leave cash and valuable jewelry out in the open no one is gonna take anything. Most landlords/property managers and contractors I know all work with the same people for multiple jobs, it’s not worth losing steady work over taking something. Now if you answered/placed an ad yourself and took off for 3 weeks that could be a different story.

If you’re really worried about it they sell fake cameras that light up for cheap online. Spend $20 and place a few around your place for piece of mind.

If I was in your position I’d be more ecstatic that I would be gone while they did the work. I lived through the hell of contractors coming over at 7am, after getting home at 3am, for months while they put in new windows, a new roof, remodeled the bathroom, and rewired the place. Our landlord was a cool guy and never raised our rent, but we saw this as a test of wills to see if we’d move so he could.

[NewYorkiforniainHouston]

I'd put a lock on the bedroom door and move anything small (of value) in there. If the LL says no to altering the bedroom door, i'd at least put a lock on the biggest closet door and place my things in there.

Take photographs of the tv and other large items that can't be moved back there.

Have a renter's insurance policy in place (not trying to advertise, but as an example, Lemonade is quick and easy to sign up online and starts at around $6/mo)

Direct one of the Nest cameras toward the locked door area, if possible. At least you can log on and peek in now and again.

I know it sounds like a lot, but if I was gone for 3 weeks, i'd feel better knowing I took action against the temptations of some random sub contractors the LL found wandering outside Home Depot

edit: I used to work at Lowe's on the weekends in the Paint department. Most interior latex paints these days have low or no VOC, also low odor that shouldn't seep and stay in soft items for long. If they're using oil based paints in there though, that smell is still strong.